Syrian Economy Minister Discusses Trade and Investment in Baku
Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry, Mohammad Nidal Al-Shaar, has arrived in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, leading a high-level ministerial delegation on an official visit. The mission aims to strengthen bilateral economic relations and broaden the framework for joint cooperation between the two nations.
The visit comes in response to an invitation to participate in the second Azerbaijan International Investment Forum, which is being held on September 25 and 26. Organized by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Economy and the Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), the forum is being hosted under the patronage of President Ilham Aliyev.
This diplomatic and economic engagement marks a new step in the Syrian government’s efforts to expand international economic partnerships and secure new markets for Syrian products. Qassem Kamel, Director of Government Communication at the Ministry, stated that the delegation has a packed agenda. This includes meetings with Azerbaijani officials and key decision-makers to discuss mechanisms for facilitating exports, revitalizing trade exchange, and broadening investment cooperation.
Kamel emphasized that the ministry remains committed to providing necessary support to the Syrian private sector. The goal is to enable local businesses to reach promising international markets and build sustainable economic partnerships that enhance the competitiveness of local products and support national economic growth.
This year’s Baku Forum is held under the theme, “Restoring Confidence in a Fragmented World: The South Caucasus as a Pillar for Global Connectivity and Investment Stability.” The event serves as a platform for prominent investors and international economic leaders. Key topics on the forum’s agenda include the Middle Corridor, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, infrastructure, free economic zones, and agribusiness. Syria’s participation aims to explore potential cooperation in these sectors, as well as in human capital investment and tourism.
These high-level talks take place against the backdrop of a notable improvement in Syrian-Azerbaijani relations, which received significant momentum following the reopening of the Azerbaijani embassy in Damascus in February 2025. This rapprochement reached a milestone in August of the same year with the commencement of Azerbaijani natural gas supplies to Syria via Turkey, highlighting the strategic nature of the cooperation between the two countries.
Furthermore, the two nations recently reached an agreement to establish a Syrian-Azerbaijani Business Council. This body is intended to serve as a vital platform for entrepreneurs and companies from both countries, aiming to accelerate joint investments and deepen professional ties between the respective business communities to serve shared economic interests in the coming period.
Source: Syria Focus Arabic
